“Children love to blow out their candles while their friends are singing ‘Happy birthday,’” the document states. “To prevent the spread of germs when the child blows out the candles, parents should either provide a separate cupcake, with a candle if they wish, for the birthday child and enough cupcakes for all the other children.”

Daycare staff should also be required to clean toys, doorknobs, floors and cushion covers with germ-killing disinfectant on a daily basis, while youngsters must wash their hands with alcohol-based sanitizer before and after playing in sandpits, says the NHMRC.

But Australian doctors say the guidelines go too far, noting how exposure to bacteria is essential for the development of a healthy immune system.

“If somebody sneezes on a cake, I probably don’t want to eat it either — but if you’re blowing out candles, how many organisms are transferred to a communal cake, for goodness’ sake?” AMA president Steve Hambleton told News Ltd.

“It’s normal and healthy to be exposed to a certain amount of environmental antigens that build up our immune systems. If you live in a plastic bubble you’re going to get infections [later on] that you can’t handle.”

The NHMRC also urged parents to allow their children to stay at home if feeling unwell in order to avoid unnecessarily spreading infections to their school classmates. Schools should ignore doctors’ letters that state a pupil is healthy if teachers suspect otherwise, said the council.

Reminds me of the spanish landing in the Americas and disease killing craploads there. Thats what they get for living in quarantine conditions. Getting exposed to germs build up your immunity (if it doesnt kill you). I can see a lot of sickly next generation Australians. It would just make it easier for us South Africans to maul them in rugby, hahaaa.

Where is that rule : child will be sealed in a rubber bag with tubes attached in seconds after it's born ? You don't have it yet ? That 's why you have germs ! Here in Europe we live in a individual rubber bubble , each with tubes to go in and out. I can't imagine my life without my bubble !

i think it makes sense, tho i hate cupcakes. i was surprised that a doctor is saying it won't, but if somebody blows his/her germs on a cake, it will make you sick, it doesn't matter how much of it you eat, right?

Please people, do not cover the Australian people with a blanket of stupidity. This ridiculous suggestion came from a Bureaucratic Coven of misfit medicos and Tree hugging calico clad nitwits. The suggestion was quickly stomped on, by clear thinking politicians and hot headed parents.

Well, well.... what happened to building a natural immune system....... I have lived in the poorest state in India for 3 years (Bihar).... The kids are tough..... Don't worry about candles...... Pfft..... It's a very natural thing to catch germs, from other kids...... We have done it for thousands of years..... It's nature.... It's natural, let it happen...

@ferittuzer The point is, especially at a young age you need to be exposed to germs. Yes you may get sick, but it helps build your immune system. If you are brought up in a sterile environment, and never get sick, when you finally do get sick your immune system will be much weaker than someone who grew up as a normal kid getting dirty, getting sick and just having fun.

I agree kit, I've never heard such BS, in all my life!. as if ppl are gonna adhere to that rule, it's just stupid. The next thing we know they'll be banning ppl for going to the toilet excessively LOL. These laws, are just made up to have greater control over ppl, and I'm sure the "law makers" only do it to get a kick out it, watching us squirm.. Just ignore it, it's absolutely ridiculous..

@Interitus@ferittuzerhttp://marksdailyapple.com is always going on about reducing the sterile environment and eating straight off the tree too. Housework is my least favourite past time and my family very rarely get sick... sounds like a reasonable excuse to me, anyway!

@Interitus@ferittuzer i know that, i wasn't brought up in sterile environment either and i think people overdo hygene here in the US, but eating something another kid sneezes on is not required to grow your immunity. there's germs everywhere, where kids touch etc, this isn't making things "too clean".